Jan. 23, 2026, 3:13 p.m. ET
The Tampa Bay Lightning (31-13-4) visit the Chicago Blackhawks (21-22-7) on Friday. Puck drop from United Center in Chicago, Illinois, is set for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds around the Lightning vs. Blackhawks odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Season series: Blackhawks lead 1-0 after a 3-2 road win as +255 dogs (Under 6.5) on Oct. 23.
Tampa is 11-0-1 over its last 12 games and bludgeoned the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday, 4-1. The Bolts were -330 home favorites. LW Brandon Hagel scored 2 goals to give him 25 on the campaign. RW Nikita Kucherov delivered 3 assists and has a goal and 5 assists in his last 3 games.
The Blackhawks upset the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 in a shootout Thursday as +230 road dogs. RW Ilya Mikheyev had a goal (his ninth) and an assist in the win. The Hawks have won 2 straight after losing 4 of 5.
Watch the NHL on Fubo!Lightning at Blackhawks odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 3 p.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML): Lightning -300 (bet $300 to win $100) | Blackhawks +240 (bet $100 to win $240)Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Lightning -1.5 (-120) | Blackhawks +1.5 (+100)Over/Under (O/U): 6 (O: -115 | U: -105)Lightning at Blackhawks projected goalies
Andrei Vasilevskiy (21-7-3, 2.18 GAA, .915 SV%, 1 SO) vs. Arvid Soderblom (5-8-1, 3.96 GAA, .867 SV%)
Vassy has been lights out, allowing 2 or fewer goals in each of his last 6 starts. He stopped 22 of 23 shots in the win over San Jose on Tuesday. He allowed 3 goals on 25 shots in the Oct. 23 loss to the Blackhawks.
Soderblom, the Hawks’ backup, was last in net in a 5-2 loss to the Boston Bruins last Saturday. He stopped 18 of 23 shots fired his way. Soderblom was 1-0-1 with a 2.49 GAA and .933 SV% against Tampa last season.
Lightning at Blackhawks picks and predictionsPrediction
Lightning 4, Blackhawks 2
There’s no play here with the Lightning massive favorites facing the Hawks on a back-to-back with their backup tendy in net. So let’s go to a prop bet. Kucherov has not had a shot on goal in 2 straight games. I would like to put him down for an assist, but that’s -235. Take NIKITA KUCHEROV UNDER 2.5 SHOTS (+105).
I’ll go with LIGHTNING -1.5 (-120). Chicago upset Tampa at home early in the season, and the Lightning will want to erase that foul taste.
The Lightning are 4-5-1 O/U in their last 10 and have gone Under in 4 straight. Chicago is 3-7 O/U in its last 10. We’re projecting a push here, and we’d possibly need an empty-netter to cash an Over. Tampa only has 2 on the season.
PASS.
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